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Surprisingly, the Phoenix “Wiley” Coyotes are off to a good start this season with an 11-4-2 record. The Caps, on the other hand, started off a bit rusty and are 9-7. Nonetheless, the Caps have been on a four game win streak and it seems like nothing can stop them. If we’re talking power play, the Caps have the highest number of power play goals as well as the NHL high of 28.5% of goals scored on the power play. The key to winning for this group of guys is to draw penalties and do what they do best, apparently, which is to score.

The one thing that could stand in their way? Mike Smith, who I mentioned in my looking ahead post, could put up a brick wall to the Caps road to victory. He’s 21st in save percentage, but he’s first in games played in the NHL. So combine the two and you can see the skewing of the stats. Especially behind a defense like his, you can see why he has a .915 sv%. Even though, he’s not someone to take lightly. Remember the 2010 Playoffs? Yeah.

In good news, the Caps get to see their former player and captain Jeff Halpern (or Halpy, as I call him) as well as Mike “gangsta” Riberio. Both are having good seasons with Ribz scoring 5 goals and Halpy 1, respectively. Not anyone to look for too closely on the ice, but you never know!

The players you do have to look out for are guys like Keith Yandle and Shane Doane, who basically carry this team on their back. If anyone’s in a fighting mood, look no further than resident tough guy Biznasty. Wouldn’t want to run into that guy in a dark alley. Yikes.

It’ll be a good game for the Caps if they keep their nose clean and keep the game fast paced. If they deviate and try some cutesy shit, they could get into some trouble.